Government says that these steps were taken to stop sale of illegal SIMs and to make sure that no un-registered or illegally sold SIM goes into market.

Mr. Rehman Malik, Minister Interior, said that these steps are going to help reduce the terrorist activities in the country.

During this whole process, future of mobile retailers was not considered. They were left with no business and exit policy, especially for the SIM stock they have available with them.

Currently all retailers are waiting for any direction for the SIMs they had obtained prior to new directions and are stocked with them.

Around 400,000 retailers are impacted with the decision, those who played pivotal role in stretching telecom services and products to far-flung areas of the country. These retailers acted like back bone for the telecom industry and increased mobile subscribers’ numbers from just 5 million in 2004 to 120 million in 2012.

They are now out of business, and apparently no one is concerned. Even the telecom companies, who are now contented with in-house sales due to saturation in market.

One of retailers wrote us following letter, which we are producing as it is. This letter raises plenty of questions – that authorities are suppose to consider.

they should write petition to SC, retailers sure get refund and will win the case 100%

Ahmad Rafiq

If you think over it calmly, this is not a bad decision. Even with all the strict rules, anyone can get any number of sims. Worst still, these sims were being registered on others people’s names and they didn’t even know about it.

Everything needs to be regulated. With whatever intention Rehman Malik has taken this step, doesn’t matter because this needed to be done sooner or later. These sims were becoming menace. People were irritating women with anonymous sims and there is a good chance that these shopkeepers were involved in it themselves.

A step well taken.

fksysko

I second u. I dont know whether it will help to avoid suicide bombings n terrorism etc. But I do believe this will eventually reduce (or even completely terminate) the sale of fake SIMs which our nation particularly Youth is enjoying for their cheap deeds.

Muhammad Shakir Aziz

Regulation is necessary. it had to happen one day. but justice should be done regarding refunds etc. Govt needs to get detection technology, they are thinking that putting barriers on everything stop terrorism as they put barriers on roads. That’s a fool’s paradise human as well as machine inttelligence system will have to be upgraded or it is not gonna stop. After 12 years of this b*** s*** they couldn’t even setup an anti terrorist cell sqaud or agency. what else can they do apart from blocking roads and mobile service.

this is not a right solution,
i know some of my friends who were connected with telecom business and they were earning much to support their own family…
Now I am in canada ,when i was new here all mobile companies were not issuing me sim,they were saying you can buy a sim after six months…
Rehman malik ko damagh istemal karnay ki zarurat hai jo k uskay pass to hai nahi bus gareeb qoam ko mazzeed gareeb tar karny pe tulll gy hain ye log…